COVID-19 inspires Earth Day environmental talks to go digital

COVID-19 inspires Earth Day environmental talks to go digital

Environment talks inspired by the annual global event Earth Day went online this year to continue the important task of building a cleaner and greener Vietnam.

news-covid-19-inspires-earth-day-environmental-talks-to-go-digital 1 GreenID Vietnam director Ms Nguy Thi Khanh (bottom right) emphasised the need for action on climate change at the opening Earth Day web talk organised by RMIT University (Vietnam) and Vietnam Clean and Green.

Eighteen diversified web talks from domestic and international researchers, educators, environmental activists, entrepreneurs and young people who are passionate about the environment took place in late April.

The speakers shared thoughts, research and statistics on inspiring topics including creating zero waste, climate action, living green and the impacts of businesses on the climate and environment.

The opening online session emphasised the need for action on climate change, the biggest challenge facing humanity and also the main theme of Earth Day 2020.

GreenID Vietnam director Nguy Thi Khanh said there were already many real-life applications to help Vietnam generate clean energy to cope with climate change.

“With technological advances, households can produce their own rooftop solar energy at a reasonable cost because solar PV installation costs have dropped by 60-80 per cent in recent years,” Ms Khanh said.

"[Solar energy] can help cool the house, produce electricity and also contribute to responding to climate change together with state departments and the community."

news-covid-19-inspires-earth-day-environmental-talks-to-go-digital 2 RMIT Vietnam Bachelor of Fashion (Merchandise Management) alumnus Ms Thu Vu spoke about the negative environmental impacts of the fashion industry.

In a separate session, RMIT Vietnam Bachelor of Fashion (Merchandise Management) alumnus and CDR Vietnam founder Thu Vu touched on the negative impact of the fashion industry on the environment.

“It takes 2,700 litres of water to produce the cotton needed to make only one single t-shirt. This figure shocked me,” Ms Thu said.

“The fashion industry consumes 93 billion cubic metres of water which is enough [to supply] five million people [with water] every year. And the amount of greenhouse gases like CO2 released by the fashion industry makes up 10 per cent of total global emissions.”

Ms Thu went on to suggest solutions to help minimise harmful impacts on the environment, including buying clothing that’s decomposable, recyclable or second hand to “help save water and reduce CO2 emissions”.

news-covid-19-inspires-earth-day-environmental-talks-to-go-digital 3 RMIT Tourism and Hospitality Management lecturer and co-founder of Vietnam Clean and Green Mr Nguyen Huu Nhan addressed the idea of “Zero Waste”.

Passionate about sustainability and environmentalism, RMIT Tourism and Hospitality Management lecturer and Vietnam Clean and Green co-founder Nguyen Huu Nhan said the series of web talks raised awareness of environmental protection. He also said that over the past four years, RMIT has been involved in organising many community Earth Day events, which have attracted thousands of people.

The web talks were organised by RMIT Vietnam staff and students in collaboration with Vietnam Clean and Green to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on 22 April.

Story: Thuy Le

14 May 2020

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